I've come from a family of creative people. My father, although an engineering instructor, was heavily involved in wood carving and wood turning, often sourcing cedar and other rare wood from the bush land outside the small Queensland town where our family lived.His father was an artist who painted the gold-leaf signs and decorations on the glass doors and wood panels of office doors and railway carriages. Then his father (my great grandfather) was an artist who painted the portraits of the 'important' people of his town. These portraits hung in the council chambers for around 100 years.
My children carry the creative tradition through a variety of endeavours. One has written and teaches a creative writing module that is taught to several classes in the primary school where she teaches. Another creates jewellery (she is a bookkeeper and tax consultant), and one is an author who has her books published in 23 countries and translated into 16 languages. The fourth is a talented artist who paints on canvas and wood.
My own journey began at school when I would paint cards for my friends, and on to high school where I took art as a subject. After a break from study to get married and have my children, I undertook four years in Fine Art at the Qld College of Art, majoring in painting and sculpture. I also gained qualifications in teaching art and English, and went on to teach at public and private high schools, including becoming the Art Department Coordinator at a girls' college.
Since retiring, I've had more time to devote to my own art works and have held exhibitions on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, as well as keeping my hand in with teaching, notably with the U3A Noosa and Wallace House.
